Freedman Biography

I. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Freedman, Russell. 1996. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CRAZY HORSE. Ill. By Amos Bad Heart Bull. New York: Holiday House.

II. PLOT SUMMARY

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CRAZY HORSE is a biographical account of the great Sioux Warrior, Crazy Horse. The book chronicles his life from a young boy to adulthood. Freedman tells the tale of Crazy Horse and the battles he fought with the encroaching whites from the east. Described as a quiet, unusual man, he was an unlikely warrior. He did not boast about his kills or take scalps. Crazy Horse came to be a symbol of Sioux independence and resistance. Though finally resigning to give up his gun and live in a reservation, he was still respected by his people and the many army officers who visited him. In an unfortunate misunderstanding, Crazy Horse became the target of the military commander Lieutenant Clark. Crazy Horse was arrested and killed in the struggle.

III. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Freedman’s biography about the great Sioux Warrior, Crazy Horse is a well-organized chronicle of his life. Freedman brings to life the struggles the Indians faced as the white people began moving thorough the northern prairies. Freedman provides a selective bibliography in narrative form describing the research he utilized to tell the story of Crazy Horse. He relied on well-regarded sources for information about Crazy Horse and the Sioux. He even traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota and the sit of the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana during his research.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CRAZY HORSE is written in chronological order. First Freedman presents a list of the main characters in the story and a short chapter briefly introducing Crazy Horse. Then the story begins with Crazy Horse as a young boy known as Curly. From there, Curly grows to become the warrior Crazy Horse. As the story progresses, the reader is introduced to the other important people in his story. Freedman also provides the reader with reference aids including a table of contents, chronology and index.

The biography of Crazy Horse is highlighted by the pictographs (or picture writing) of the Oglala Sioux, Amos Bad Heart Bull. He had been a historian of his people, compiling a large ledger with a detailed history and over four hundred drawings to tell his people’s story. Many of those drawings are included in this biography and add much to the story of Crazy Horse. Each drawing includes a caption describing it. The book also includes some maps giving a visualization of the territory being described. Overall, the book is well designed with medium size text and oversize pages.

The writing style of Freedman is not embellished with over dramatized descriptions. However, the story of Crazy Horse is compelling and brings to life the battles fought on the prairies. He uses quotes from many notable people. For example, Red Cloud is quoted as saying “I will talk with you no more! I will go—no!—and I will fight you!” (1996, 62). The use of dialog in this biography adds a readable quality to the text.

Freedman’s biography of Crazy Horse sheds light on the experiences of the Sioux in their fight for their hunting grounds and way of life. Through triumph and tragedy, the life of Crazy Horse is relived in this book, bringing the reader into the struggles the Indians faced as they dealt with the western migration of the white people.

IV. REVIEW EXCERPTS

“Black-and-white reproductions of Indian pictographs from a collection of drawings by a Sioux artist (Crazy Horse's cousin) decorate and lend authenticity to Freedman's story-a story that is readable and balanced, and one that illuminates an important chapter of American history” –School Library Journal

“A spectacular match: Freedman’s tale of the great Oglala Siouxs career is coupled with 50 black-and-white pictographs done by a tribal historian.”—Kirkus Reviews

V. CONNECTIONS

**Create a Reader’s Theatre script from some of the text in this biography.
**Read the picture book CRAZY HORSE’S VISION by Joseph Bruchac.